Mounting economic pressure on Iranians has been accompanied by an increase in suicides, especially among the workforce.

According to the Iranian daily Etemad, at least 23 workers have committed suicide in the nine months since the start of the Iranian new year on March 21, 2022.  

All the deceased were contractual or daily male workers, says the report, noting that out of 23, only two committed suicide for unknown reasons. Of the remaining 21, eleven suicides happened shortly after dismissal from work, ban on entering the workplace, punishment or threats by managers. Five workers took their lives due to poverty and unemployment and four others over "livelihood problems" caused by wage arrears. One worker ended his life after a dispute with the employer, says Etemad.  

While the real toll is believed to be higher, figures reveal that the more deprived the region, the higher the number of registered incidents. According to the data, the western province of Ilam had five suicide cases, followed by Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Khuzestan and Kermanshah provinces, each with three cases. Next is Fars province, with two. Those areas, in the west, southwest and south of Iran, are among the country’s poorest regions.